Coal-washing apparatus



' y 1929. F. H. BLATCH ET AL 1,714,492

COAL WASHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 INFENTORJ'.

ATTORNEY y 8, 1929. F. H. BLATCH ET AL 1,714,492

COAL WASHING APPARATUS ATTORNEY Patented May 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. BLATCH, OI HA ZLETON, HARRY L. MQLEAN AND WILLIAM C. MEN- ZIES, OF SCBAN'ION, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID BLATCH AND MOLEAN ASSIGNORS T WILMOT ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF 'rIoN or rE NsYIlvANm.

HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- GOAL-WASHING APPARATUS.

Application filed-December 6, 1927. Serial No. 238,012.

Ourinvention relates to coal washing apparatus wherein, preferably, the water for efl'ecting the washing of the coal and the separation of slate, bony material, stone and the like therefrom is supplied continuously under the pressure requisite to effect such washing and separation.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the character described comprising means of novel construction whereby a device located in the path of the discharge of the mixture of coal, slate,

bony material, stone and the like into the washing tank and a device located in the path of discharge of slate, etc., separated from the coal co-operate with each other to regulate and control the feeding of said mixture into the washing tank and the discharge of the slate, etc., therefrom.

It also is an object of the invention to provide the devices for controlling the feed of the mixture of coal, slate, bony material and the like into the washin tank and for controlling the discharge 0? the said slate, bony material and the like from the said tank with means or devices whereby clogging of the slate, bony material and the like is prevented and whereby the said slate, bony material and the like are, caused to move or flow forward and to be discharged from the said tank.

To .these and other ends the invention comprehends the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the drawings and pointed out particularly in the claims.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its practical advantages fully appreciated reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in WlllCh we have illustrated various forms of structures embodying our invention and illustrative of the principle of its operation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in top plan of a portion of a coal washing apparatus provided with and embodying our invention;

Fig. 2' isa view in vertical longitudinal section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section of the slate discharge gate of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is anview in vertical section of a bodying our invention, the said view being taken in a plane extending of the said apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shownin Fig. '3, butv showing still another modified construction of means embodying the inveir tion; and 1 Fig. 5' is a similar view of a fragmentary portion of the structure also showing a slight modification of the structure.

In the drawings we have shown a coal washing apparatus. provided with a frame structure indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 1 for supporting a water holding tank designated as a whole by the reference numeral 2. This tank-is divided into longitudinally various compartments as is usual in ap paratus of this character, one of the said compartments being that in which the washing and cleaning of thecoal are effected, the said compartment being indicated at 3. The mixture of coal and impurities, including slate, bony material, stone and the like is discharged from a chute 4 into the upper left hand portion of the compartment 3. The coal and the impurities move or fiow forwardly through the compartment 3 un derneath the bafile plate 5 which is indicated as being adjustable as is generally the case. The coal as it moves or flows through the compartment 3 is subjected to the action of a stream of water which is supplied from a source of supply (not shown) through an inlet 6 across the end of which a perforated plate 7 extends which plate constitutes a portion of the'bottom of the compartment 31 It may be noted that the forward wall of the inlet 6 is curved as indicated at 6 and that the walls of the said inlet at its dis- I I charge end are so directed and related to the 'perforated plate 7 that the water is discharged herefrom in a vertical direction corresponding to the direction of the perforations 8 through the said plate. Any slush or deposit which may gather in the lower side of the inlet 6 may be removed through the opening 6 controlled by a valve 6. The perforations 8 through the plate 7- may extend as shown in a vertical direction transversely of the direction of the movement of the flow of the material through the com-3 through the chutes o'r troughs 15 a from.

which it isv discharged in known manner. The water which flows over the breast plate 10 with the coal is drained from the latter through the perforated bottoms ofthe chutes or troughs, also in known manner.

The impurities, consisting of the mate rials and substances previously indicated, being heavier or of greater specific gravity than the coal, moves or flows along upon or adjoining the bottom of the compartment 3 and is discharged from the compartment 3 through an opening formed by a vertically adjustable gate 20 in co-operation with the opposing lower edge portion of the perforated plate 7.

The mixture of coal and impurities as it is delivered or discharged from the chute 4 strikes against a control gate 21 which is connected near its opposite ends to arms 22 which in turn are connected to and supported .upon a shaft 23 pivotally supported at its opposite end in bearings 24. It will be seen that the plate 21 is pivotally supported. The shaft 23 is. provided at its middle point withan upwardly projecting arm 25 to the upper end of which a link 26 is connected the opposite end of which is con nected to the upper end of the upwardly projecting arm of a bell crank lever 27 pivoted at 28 to a stationary support carried upon the upper side of the frame 1 of the apparatus. A vertically disposed link 30 is -connected at its upper end to the lowerv end of the other arm of the said bell crank lever and its lower end to the outer end of an arm 31 connected to a shaft32 pivotally supported in bearings at its opposite ends and provided with bracket arms 33 to which a plate 34 is connected. The plate 34 constitutes a gatewhich extends across and tends to close the opening through which theimpurities are adapted to be discharged from the compartment'3.

The plates or gates 21 and 34 being pivotally' supported and being connected by the connecting means as above described it will be seen' that they are inter-related and interact and co-operate to controlthe rate of feed of the mixture of coal and impurities to the compartment 3 and the rate of the discharge of impurities from said compartment. The plates 21 and 34 and the connections therebetween are shown in the drawings in the position they occupy when the apparatus is not in operation. It will be understood thatwhen' the mixture of coal partment 3. Such pivotal movement of the plate 21 operates through the connections previously described to effect a like swingi'ng movement of the plate 34 to permit discharge of the impurities which may be separated from the coal through the opening un- (lerneath the adjustable plate 20. The impurities thus discharged are conveyed from the tank by means of the endless conveyor means shown at 35 which is of usual construction and operates in the-usual known manner. Any slush which may collect in the lower end of the pocket within which the conveyor 35 is located may be removed through the valve controlled opening 36. t

It may happen that the mixture of the coal and impurities and the impurities after separation from the coal will tend to clog in the compartment 3 and thereby prevent it from flowing or moving forward in the said compartment. To prevent such occurrence we have provided what may be described as agitating devices consisting of a plurality of curved fingers 40 connected at their upper ends to the inner side of the plate or gate 21 and extending forwardly therefrom into the compartment 3. The said fingers are located at intervals and rest upon the bottom of the compartment 3 and terminate at points in rear of or to the left of the opening underneath the adjustable plate 20 for the discharge of the impurities from the compartment 3. Co-operating with the fingers 40 to prevent clogging of'the impurities" within the discharge opening therefor the plate or gate 34'is provided with rearwardly [projecting fingers 41 which extend into positions underneath or slightly in rear of the adjustable plate 20. The movements of the fingers 40 and 41 effected by the movements of the plates or gates 21 and 34 agitate the mixture of coal and impurities and the latter after separation from the coal in the compartment 3' sufliciently to prevent the clogging'of the material within the saidcompartment. I

In the previous description we have referred primarily to the structure as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings which differs somewhat from the construction illustrated in the subsequent figures of the drawings, but the principle of operation is substantially if not identicallythe same.

-We shall now proceed with a description per side of a member .45 mounted upon the V inner side of the rear wall of the said tank 2. The upper and lower surfaces of the.

" member 45 are angularly related to each otheras shown in Fig. 4. The coal after it has passed underneath the lower edge of the adjustable baffle plate and from the upper side of the member 45-falls onto the perforated plate. 46 which constitutes the bottom of the compartment 3. The water for washing the mixture of coal, slate,

bony material and otherlike material is discharged from a suitable source of supply through an inlet 4,? into a compartment of the tank underneath the perforated plate 46 and flows therefrom through the said perforations in said plate ',and upwardly through the compartment 3. In its flow through the compartment "3 it effects separation of the coal from the impurities as described in connection with the construcv tion illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The coal after separation from the impurities of the mixture is carried upwardly and forwardly and is discharged over the upper edge of the breast plate and is conveyed thence through chutes such as those designated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The impurities which are separated from the coal move or flow forwardly underneath the rear edge of the .rearwardly projecting or extending plate 48' secured to the rear side of the adjustable plate 49 the lower edge of which terminates at short dis tance above the upper side of the forward or right hand end portion of the perforated plate 46. The presence .of the rearwardly extending plate 48 which extends transversely of the apparatus prevents ortends to. prevent the descent of portions of coal which may have been separated from the impurities of the mixture downwardly into v position to agai'n be comming led with the impurities from which they may have been previously separated. The slate and other impurities which may have been separated from the mixture are discharged from the lower front edge of the plate 46 and are conveyed from the tank by means .of an endless conveyor of the usual construction and operating in the usual known manner.

Any slush or deposit which may be collected in the portion of the tank underneath the perforated plate 46 may be removed through the opening controlled by the valve" 51. I

IVhen the mixture of coal and impurities is discharged from the chute 4., in the con-, struction shown in Fig. 4, it contacts with the plate 21 which is secured to and supported upon arms 22' which are secured to and depend from a shaft 23 journaled at its opposite ends n bearings one of which is indicated at 24' A lever is rigidly connected at a point intermediate its "ends frame of the apparatus.

which co-operates with the lower .ties, consisting of slate, bony of the said lever is provided with an adjustable weight 56. The opposite end of the said lever is connected to theupper end of a vertical link-57 the lower end of which is connected to the outer front end of an arm 58 connected-at its rear end to a shaft 60 having depending arms 61 securedthereto towhich is secured a plate 62 constituting a gate co-operating with the front edge of the perforated plate 46. W'henthe mixture of coal and impurities strikes against the plate 21 it causes forward pivotal movement thereof to effect similar movement of the shaft 23' to elevate the front end portion ofthe lever .55. The elevation of the latter through the link"57'lifts the arm 58 to rock the shaft 60 to cause corresponding forward rocking movement of the plate or gate 62. The extent of the rocking move ment of the arm 58 and of the shaft 60niay be varied somewhat byadjusting the connection between 'the upper end of the link 57 and the outer front end portion of the lever 55 toward and from the shaft 23'.

A slush valve is provided at 6:3 for the removal of slush or deposit from the pocket. 66 within which the lower end portion of the conveyor 35 is located. 1

In the construction as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings the parts designated by the reference numbers 2, 3, 5, 10, 35, 45. 46. 47. 48, 49, 50 and 51 are substantially identi cal with the parts correspondingly num bered in Fig. 3.

mixture of coal and impurities to be, washed intoa short trough like member 70 the rear ends of the opposite sides of which overlie the opposite sides of the front end of the chute 4' and are pivoted thereto by means of pivots .one of which is shown at 7].. The forward end of one of the sides is pivotally connected with the lower end of a link 72 which is piwtally connected at its upper end to the rear end of a lever 73 pivoted intermediate its end to the upper end of a post or standard'74 supported upon a cross bar 7 5mounted upon the upper side of the T heforwardly extending portion of the lever 73 is provided with a weight 76 which may be adjusted back andfforth thereon. The forward portion of the said lever preferably at a point intermediate the weight 7 6 and the pivotal support for thesaid lever 73 isconnected pivotally to the upper end of a link f7? which extends downwardly through a tubular pro-- jecting'guide 78 and is connected at its lower end to-the'forward side of a plate or gate 79 frontedge of the perforated plate 46 to control or aid in controlling the discharge of the impurimaterial,

gate 79 is In said Fig. 4 the chute 4 discharges the stone and the The plate or pivotally connected at its upper edge by means of a pivotal connection indicated at 80 to the-front side of the lower edge portion of the breast plate 10. When the apparatus 5 is not in use the parts .70 and 79 and the connections between the same occupy substantially the positions shown in Fig. 4, but

when the mixture of coal and impurities is discharged into the short trough section 70 the weight thereof causes downward swinging movement of said trough to discharge the mixture therefrom which movement also causes pivotal movement of the lever 73 to swing the front end portion thereof bearing the weight 76 upwardly which results in the elevation of the plate or gate 79. The said plate or gate 79 is of curved shape in cross section as shown. In consequence of such curved shape the relatively heavier lmpurities which may be banked against the inner or rear side thereof operate more effectively I. to aid in the opening of the said gate to permit the discharge of the said impurities. The construction as illustrated in Fig. 5

of the drawings is identical with that shown in Fig. 4 except that the device or'means 82 which is connected to the lower end of the link 77 is of different shape from the device 79. The device 82 is of substantially right angular shape in cross section, one flange portion of which extends forwardly and 00- 'cupies a substantially horizontal position and is pivoted by means of a pivot at 83 to a transverse partition or wall 84 extending transversely of the tank and located a distance in advance of the point of discharge of the coal and impurities from the washing compartment 3. The other flange of the device 82 at the rear edge thereof extends 40 downwardly in a substantially vertical plane as indicated at 85 and its lower edge is adapted to rest upon the up er side of the lower front edgeportion o the plate 46. The impurities which may be separated from the coal contact with and may bank up against the rear side of the downwardly extending portion 85. The operation of the mechanismshown in Fig. 5 is substantially identical with the operation of the'corresponding mechanism shown in Fig. 4 and,

for that matter, the corresponding mechanism shown in previous figures of the draw- IDOS.

it will be seen that by our invention we -have provided means at the point of delivchamber after separation thereof from the coal and to control automatically the rate of delivery of the mixture to the washing.

compartment and also to control the dis-' charge of the impurities from the said com partment. In other words the means 10- cated at the points stated are connected and inter-related so as to co-operate in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore indicated.

Having thus described our invention what its impurities, means adapted to be actuated by the discharge of the mixture of coal and impurities into the said compartment, mov:

able means extending across the openingleading from said compartment through which the impurities are discharged, means connected to said first named means and extending into said compartment for agitating the mixture .of coal and impurities contained in said compartment upon movement of said movable means, and connections between the said two means whereby the said means cooperate to control the delivery of the. mixture of coal and impurities intothe compartment and to control the discharge of impurities therefrom. s

2. Inapparatus for washing coal, the combination of a tank having a compartment within which coal is washed and separated from its impurities, pivotally supported means extending across the path of discharge of the mixture of coal and impurities into the said compartment, pivotally supported-means extending acrossan open ing leading from said compartment through which the impurities, after separation from the coal, are discharged, connections between the said two means whereby they react one upon the other andthereby control the delivery of the mixture of coal and impurities intothe said compartment and the discharge of the impurities therefrom,.and means connected to each of said 'pivotally supported means and extending into said compartment for agitating the coal and impurities contained therein upon movement of said pivotally supported means.

3. In apparatus for washing coal, the combination of a tank having a compartment in which coal is washed and separated from its impurities a portion of the said compartment being provided with a perforated bottom, means providing an inlet for-discharging water through the said bottom, the said means being shaped todirect the flow of said water in a direction parallel with the direction of the perforations through the perforated portion-of the bottom of said compartment, a pivoted gate extending across the line of discharge of the mixture of coal and impurities into the said compartment, means for pivotally supporting said gate, a gate extending across an opening in the front side of the said compartment through which the impurities, separated from the coal, are discharged,

means. for pivotally supporting said last mentioned gate, connections between said gates whereby they co-operate with each other in controlling the discharge of the mixture of coal and impurities into the said compartment and in the discharge of the separated impurities therefrom, and a plurality of curved fingers connected to said first named gate and extending into engagement with the bottomof said {compartment for agitating the coal and impurities contained therein upon movement of said gate.

4. In apparatus for washing coal, the combination of a tank having a compartment in which the coal is washed and separatedfrom such impurities as may. be intermingled therewith, said compartment having. an

opening through which the impurities which may be separated from the coal aredischarged, a perforated plate extending across the lower end of said compartment, means for' discharging a steam of water through the said perforated plate andthrough the said compartment to effect washing of the coal and the separation thereof from its impurities, movable means with which the mixture of coal and impurities contacts in its passage to the said compartment, a pivotally supported gate located outside of said compartment and extending across the opening leading therefrom through which the im-' purities are discharged, a connection between the said gate and the said movable means whereby movement of one causes movement of the other to thereby effect control of the delivery of the mixture of coal and impurities into the said compartment and'of the discharge of impurities from the said compartment after theirseparation from the HARRY L. MCLEAN and WILLIAM C. Mniszrnshave hereunto signed their names this 25th day of November, 1927.

FRANCIS H. BLATCH. HARRY L. MoLEAN. WILLIAM C. MENZIESQ 

